Almanac Music: Top Albums of 2020

Luke Reynolds runs through his favourite albums of 2020. What were your favourites?

Almanac Music: Australian Summer Songs – Name a Personal Classic.

Summer, memories and music go together so well. In this piece, KD asks Almanackers for a favourite summer song, a ‘personal classic’, and provides one of his own.

Book Review: ‘Lament’ by Nicole Kelly

Mickey Randall reviews fellow Almanacker Nicole Kelly’s recent release ‘Lament’.

Almanac Life: What A Year!

Former Almanac work-experience kid Bridget Schwerdt’s 2020 didn’t turn out as expected. [Congratulations Bridget – well done. Ed]

Almanac Life: A Short Note to 2020.

2020 was a year like no other but Dips O’Donnell is optimistic for 2021.

Almanac Poetry: ‘The Falling Road’ – Tommy Mallet

Tommy Mallet has penned a wonderful heart-felt tribute to an old man in his poem ‘The Falling Road’.

Almanac Poetry: Prince Albert Hotel, Daylesford, Victoria

This Tuesday’s poem from Kevin Densley features the picturesque Central Victorian spa town of Daylesford.

‘Crops, People, Money & You’: a new book by Kate Burke

Congratulations to Kate Burke, a great friend of the Almanac, on the release of her new book: ‘Crops, People, Money & You: The Art of Excellent Farming’. [And thank you Kate for your ongoing support of the Almanac through your consultancy firm ThinkAgri.]

Almanac Christmas: Merry Christmas fellow Almanackers!

Merry Christmas fellow Almanackers!

Almanac Book Review – Albert ‘Pompey’ Austin: A Man Between Two Worlds

Kevin Densley recently read Roy Hay’s book on Albert ‘Pompey’ Austin and provides some general impressions.

Almanac Music: The Best Australian Albums of 2020

Smokie has listened to plenty of music this year, much of it Australian. As we approach the end of 2020, he lists his best Aussie albums of the past twelve months.

Almanac Music: How to Make Gravy reimagined

Mickey Randall listened to a podcast on the ABC related to Paul Kelly’s ‘How to Make Gravy’ that looked at the storyline from the perspectives of Dan and Mary.

Almanac Music: Wantok Musik Final 2020 Newsletter

Catch up with all the musical happenings from the world of Wantok Musik in their final newsletter for 2020.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Roots’ by Tommy Mallet

A man and his dog beautifully told by Tommy Mallett in his poem, ‘Roots’. [Welcome Tommy. Glad you’ve finally decided to publish your poems. – JTH]

Almanac Book Review – ‘The Momentous Uneventful Day: a requiem for the office’ by Gideon Haigh

Roger Lowrey offers his thoughts on Gideon Haigh’s most contemporary tome: ‘The Momentous Uneventful Day: a requiem for the office.’

Almanac (Music) Memoir: Freshwater Creek: are you ready to rock’n’roll?

In his prose piece this week, KD writes about an early gig his band, Murmurs, played at Freshwater Creek Hall, near Anglesea, Victoria, in 1980. He recalls being surprised – and more than a little concerned – about how the gig was advertised.

Almanac Life: There is a great joy in being useful

Peter Robertson explores the joy of being a useful person and making a difference to life.

Brendan

Brendan Sheehan, a Bloods man through and through as well as a Life Member of both the Footscray Hockey Club and the Victorian Hockey Association, is remembered touchingly and honoured suitably by his friend Chris Bracher.

Almanac Rewind – Mike Sexton in India: Finding Cricket and Space in Delhi

With the test series against India beginning tomorrow, let’s revisit this piece from Mike Sexton, published late last year. A taste of modern Dehli, and an insight into modern Indian cricket. (If you didn’t get a copy of Border’s Battlers at the time, it’s well worth it – Ed).

Almanac Music: The New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers

‘The New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers’ Vol. 1 is a great blues based album finally released twelve years after it was recorded.